diff --git a/src/custom.cpp b/src/custom.cpp
index 9b26b0dd6..0156e7e0b 100644
--- a/src/custom.cpp
+++ b/src/custom.cpp
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ int runCustomReport (
             time_t cntdwn = (time_t) (now - dt);
             countdown = formatSecondsCompact ( cntdwn < 0 ? cntdwn * -1 : cntdwn );
             if ( cntdwn < 0 )
-              countdown = std::string("- ") + countdown;
+              countdown = std::string("-") + countdown;
             context.hooks.trigger ("format-countdown_compact", "countdown_compact", countdown);
             table.addCell (row, columnCount, countdown);
           }